Canada Geese

Canada Geese are native to North America and can be found throughout Oakville. Once endangered, these birds have now become the most common waterfowl species in North America. If left unchecked, the goose population in Oakville could double in size every three years.

Aggressive geese

Aggressive geese should be avoided. Geese may be more aggressive during nesting season beginning in early April. When threatened, Canada Geese will stand erect, spread their wings, and make a hissing sound. Then, they will charge, bite, or attack with their wings.

Feeding geese

Feeding Canada Geese and other waterfowl is prohibited in Oakville under By-law 2013-013. Negative impacts associated with feeding geese include:

• Attracting even more birds to human habitats which can result in land degradation, water contamination, overpopulation, and increased instances of accidental death
• Malnourishment - Geese have a very specific diet and when they are fed foods like bread they do not get the essential fats, proteins, and nutrients they require
• Dependency on humans for food that can jeopardize the animal’s survival

Deterring geese

Due to their large population, Canada Geese are often considered a nuisance in and around waterfront areas. Geese are attracted to mown lawns that stretch down to the water. You can deter Canada Geese from nesting and staying on your property by:

• Cutting your lawn less frequently,
• Planting native shrubs and vegetation, including longer grasses near shorelines and waterways,
• Using bright, flashing strobe lights after dark or before dawn to disturb geese, and
• Playing sound recordings of eagles or falcons, natural predators of geese, to scare them away.

Canada Goose management program

Town staff are employing an overall goose management program to control the population of resident geese. Egg removal, turf sweeping and habitat modification are other programs designed to deal with the overpopulation of Canada geese along Oakville's waterfront.

Operating under a permit from the Canadian Wildlife Service, town crews round up and relocate approximately 1,000 geese every June to a wildlife sanctuary.

Egg removal program

The egg removal program is an annual program undertaken by the Parks and Open Space department. It concentrates on nests located along the Lake Ontario shoreline, in Oakville and Bronte Harbours, and along the Sixteen Mile, Fourteen Mile and Twelve Mile creeks and ponds. Egg removal encourages the geese to abandon their nesting sites in search of suitable habitats for moulting. The eggs are humanely disposed of as per guidelines from the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS).

While many nests are located on the shoreline and in our public spaces, geese can also nest on your property. If you have observed nests on your property in the past and would like to participate in the egg removal program, please contact ServiceOakville, and please note that the town requires permission to enter your property.